Top 10 G.I. Joe Comics You Should Buy Now

I'm sharing my Top 10 picks for strong buys from the original Marvel G.I. Joe run, plus a few Honorable Mentions. This is a total of almost 20 key back issues from the entire 155 issue run... don't miss out on these hot picks!

[@raulzavala9061]

In the 90's when sales were down I managed to complete the entire collection by frequenting various comicons. Will never part with them.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

That’s awesome! I’ve been a fan since childhood and have only recently begun building a full run. I’ve snagged most of the bigger books (other than 155) and am now filling in the gaps.

[@joehenry9546]

Only missing #155. It got stolen from my mail box as a kid. I’m still pissed about it.

[@ronnyjohnston6039]

Just dragged my small collection out of storage to share with my Son. I bought a lot of gijoe when I was a kid. My LCS back then was across town and I'd ride my bike down on the weekends. Along the way I'd grab my free pizza hut pan from the school reading program and head to the comic shop. I would save up change and buy a few Gijoes from the bargain bin. (50 cents each.) Goal was 1-100. Never made it, but fun to see them again. I believe I got around 70 or so...going through them now and put your video on. Thx!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

That’s so awesome to hear! About a year ago, I’d started sharing the cartoon with my two girls (8 and 10) and surprisingly it still holds up! And yes, those Pizza Hut book it coupons were amazing lol!

[@ronnyjohnston6039]

@CarlosCollectsComics Ha! Right after your video I put the cartoon on and my son was instantly hooked. Some of those episodes were nuts! Good times, thx again.

[@guymccloud6731]

Great video...and I still have these iny collection as a kid. 21 is my all time fave. #2 was a key issue for a LONG time because of its low print run. Keep eyes on that one too.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestion! #21 is also a personal favorite of mine, but there’s so many from this run that bring back good memories from childhood.

[@Ravensflock89]

Sooo. I have never collected GI Joe comic books but between the snake eyes movie and this list it has definitely peaked my interest. I appreciate this list so much!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Glad it helped, Jeff! I’m definitely a GI Joe fan being an 80’s kid. There’s some really good stories built into the comics that never made it to the cartoon. Larry Hama is a masterfully writer... he currently works on the ongoing title.

[@Ravensflock89]

@@CarlosCollectsComics that is great! Since you are a GI Joe guy I will definitely be asking you questions in helping me build my collection. What is the name of the ongoing title Larry Hama is working on? I might check that out as well.

[@Ravensflock89]

@@CarlosCollectsComics soo…. I have started my GI collection as of today. I got issue 50 and 56. It’s a small start but it is a start lol.

[@dwmarch]

I agree issue 109 would have been worthy of the top ten list. All those Joes killed at once and all because of a misunderstanding! Along similar lines, the issue (I think it was in the Special Missions series) where the Oktober Guard got mostly wiped out in battle.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

💯💯🎂

[@YouTruckinNerd]

The silent issue sounds intriguing! I'm gonna have to pick that up!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

It’s definitely a book worth having! I kind of lucked into it when a friend called about a stack of Joe books... it’s one of the three highest priced books from the original run.

[@cheeseburger12]

Did you get a chance to read it? Impressive, no? They copied the silent issue template a few times, and Marvel decided to copy it for all thier books one month years later.

[@antonmassopust568]

Great video I think that I have all those issues and I don't know if that series ever came back because the movie didn't do so well but those issues always go up in price

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Agreed! This run has quite a few books that continue to steadily climb in price, including the ones on this list. In 2023, I would add #152, #153 and #154 to this list, as they have all gone up significantly due to scarcity.

[@barnoldo2877]

started collecting recently. Just picked up a copy of 21!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Nice!!! Congratulations, that’s an excellent start to the GI Joe run!

[@jbonilla8955]

Kool list! Thanks for the specs! I didn't know about few of these

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Awesome! I'm glad you got some good info from it... plenty of these are still just hanging out in back issue bins for very affordable prices! Make sure and update me with which ones you find.

[@fatstackscomics4652]

Great list. Good job 🔥🔥

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thank you! It means a lot that other comic folks can get something out of it. Looking forward to producing more Top 10 list videos with an even shorter run time!

[@sade281]

Yoooooooooo I still like issue 48 / Sgt slaughter first !! He was my man

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Agreed, what a great character! Sorry I am just now seeing this, but wanted to respond anyway. Thanks for watching!

[@muletas4]

Great list brother! Keep it up!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thank you! Looking forward to providing additional Top 10 lists and other helpful info about comic collecting.

[@jameshoward3527]

Was an great show. Just starting to collect gijoe

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

That’s great to hear! I love my GI Joe run that’s starting to come together. I’m even picking up 2nd Prints when I come across them.

[@SlimsCollectionFood_More]

Newly subbed here, nice top 10. Great books and info, have a good one. 👍✌

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thank you for checking it out! Make sure to stay tuned for other lists coming out soon!

[@arthurtripp6922]

LOOK OUT FOR REPRINT OF ISSUE NUMBER ONE. AND LAST ISSUES WERE LOW PRINT RUN OF KILL OFF.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thanks for the tips, Arthur! Glad you watched the video and commented.

[@armandoalba8713]

I have all gijoe comics !!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🎉🎉🎉 way to go!

[@johnsoehnlen4781]

Thanks for doing this video. Definitely learned a few things. I made sure to take a notes on how to tell the difference between 1st and 2nd prints. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is one of two series I've decided to complete in the last month. I got into it with Issue 126 back in 1992. That gave me answers to questions to a story I didn't completely understand. I've been trying to piece it together haphazardly since 1992. I was fortunate to get several of the later issues back when theywerefirstreleased, including Issue 155, which is the best issue in my opinion. I'm presently up to 91 issues. I have a few questions. 1. Several of the issues that I bought are direct mail copies in sealed bags. Should I leave them in the bags? How can I tell if those issues are original bags or resealed? 2. My Issue #1 is Tales of G.I.JOE. I know that this was a reprint series from 1988. Its not a problem for me since I want to read the entire series but from a collector's perspective, is this okay for completing the entire series? 3. From a collector's perspective is the Todd McFarlane rejected Issue 61 a necessity for completing the entire series? I know the rejected issue was printed in 1994 after Issue 155.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thanks so much for watching! This was one of the first videos I did for the channel because I’ve been working on my own Marvel GI Joe run for a couple of years now. 1. When it comes to the bags, the only ones I have left on any of mine were those that had printing on the bag itself and included things like trading cards. In those cases, I also bought a second copy to have one open. 2. The Tales line of reprints was great! To each their own with collecting… I think it comes down to personal preference. For me, I have focused on at least getting a first print of every issue for my personal collection. 3. For the McFarlane issue, aka GI Joe Special #1, while it’s a valuable and coveted book for many collectors, I haven’t prioritized it until I finish the main run of 1-155. At that point, I may start working on the ancillary stuff like Order of Battle, Special Missions and the Special. That being said, any Joe collector should consider picking it up if you find an affordable copy. It’s one of the four priciest Joe comics out there (alongside 1, 21 and 155).

[@ItsBriiiiii]

thanks for the information. I know nothing about these, bought a lot at auction of around 40 issues. generally nice condition. One is #14 and another is the digest version of #1 (December '82). I'll have to look into the others

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Glad the video helped! It’s a great run to build.

[@l.greenemachine66]

Awesome video. I like these top 10 list because it's easier to focus on what you need to look at when there's so many books to look at. I hope that made sense? LOL

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Makes perfect sense! I enjoy making these also… looking forward to dropping some more very soon!

[@l.greenemachine66]

@@CarlosCollectsComics right on thanks a lot!

[@caavoom]

Good list!

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Thank you!!! Looking forward to completing my run this year!

[@caavoom]

@@CarlosCollectsComics I do have 100+ issues. Mostly missing issues from the latter part (120 and up)

[@johnroth7938]

No 144, snake eyes origin story?

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

I debated it, but decided to put 26/27 into Honorable Mentions and 59 on the main list instead. Just too many good books for only a Top 10!

[@johnroth7938]

@@CarlosCollectsComics it's the one I bought when I was 12.. a guy's gotta give it some love!!

[@Ruffian71]

Good solid list… I didn’t agree with all of it but a solid list nonetheless.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Glad you checked it out! Which issues would you have added to the list?

[@Ruffian71]

@@CarlosCollectsComics 23/24, the capture & escape of Cobra Commander. 46 SS/SE attack on Cobra Island, the hunt for Zartan. 49/50 the creation of Serpentor. 75, death of Serpentor. 69 Iron Grenadiers premier. 86, Joe Colton, the first G.I.JOE. 93/94, Snake Eyes old face & new face. 100, Cobra Commander returns in black hooded cobra uniform. 126, Firefly's origin. I'd drop from the list 44/59..

[@chrisaxdahl5089]

I find some gi joe comic books and Sioux falls SD at rainbow comic and cards

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

That’s fantastic! Make sure to keep supporting your local comic shop.

[@srikantdas3338]

Where to buy GIJOE.. comics..??

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

Hey! Lots of great places; eBay, Facebook groups, Instagram and - of course - the @StrictlyComix KZbin channel!

[@cheeseburger12]

Too bad the movie bombed so hard. I've got at least a digital or reprint of most every RAH Joe of the first one.

[@CarlosCollectsComics]

I was also disappointed about the movie’s performance, but wasn’t too surprised… it just didn’t look like a solid project from the beginning. Any of them, to be honest. The best was GI Joe: Retaliation but even that was sorely lacking.

[@cheeseburger12]

@@CarlosCollectsComics hard agree. Sad but true.